Flooded my XJ wheelin in creek. Starts without key....
 

I have a 98 XJ, i've owned several of them..
built, beat, destroy, repeat...
the whole 9 yards.

now i hardly ever get a response on forums, but i figured i would still give it a try. Wheeling my XJ last sunday on a old familiar trail, i attempted to cross a creek that we've all crossed before (I have cleared it several times in my comanche) but a little rain had made it deeper than it appeared.
Anyways, went in.. took in alot of water.. almost up to the steering wheel.

The cherokee kept on running the entire time, even while winching it out.
made it back to land, i parked it on a slight incline to drain water (Still has carpet) she ran for about a minute then stalled out.

After that, she wouldn't start.
loaded her on the trailer after being towed off the trail by a fellow jeeper,
made it home and removed carpet, and in-cabin fuses. None where blown, slight condensation built up on some fuses. under the hood fuses did not get wet.

Now it's completely dead because the "rear defrost" light on the switch stays constantly lite. and when i attempt to turn it over after running some jumper cables to it AND EVEN WITH THE KEY REMOVED. it'll continue trying to start itself.


Im assuming one thing, bad starter? it's shorted out some where and it'll constantly spin the fly wheel as soon as it has power sent to it?

condensation on the fuses?

otherwise that im lost..

i've sunk several XJ's never had this issue. lol

Thank you for the help, in advanced!

Sounds like you shorted something out. Could be something as easy as the starter relay but if water was up to the steering wheel I'm guessing something in the ignition is either still wet or shorted. I'd start by replacing the relay.

That much water I would say you screwed the electrical system, good luck!

There is a short between the steering wheel and the seat.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aAyZZoalEaE/hqdefault.jpg

Water that deep means real problems for sure. For starters I would place a large fan inside and blow air toward the dash area for several days, will it help not sure but can't hurt.

Then I guess being what happened I would start pulling connections drying, dielectric grease reconnect and work down from top to bottom to starter. Someone else may have a better place to start but hope to hear for myself from them also.

I obviously got very lucky when I put mine up into the steering wheel. Only thing it blew was the fan fuse.

Like said above I'd let it sit in the sun and dry out for a few days and then see what happens. Can also pull the surround off the column and unplug the ignition plugs to make sure there's no water sitting in them.

Thanks for the advice guys, I've been going through the xj a little after work.
Started pulling some of the steering column off, i pulled the started today.
I wanted to see if maybe there was a short somewhere, had advanced auto test it.
Everything came back fine, i sat a watched him test it.

I pulled the relay from under the hood, and put a different one in it from
the ASD, and the jeep wouldn't start on its own when i connected the jumper cables.

but i would attempt to if i tapped on the relay a few times, or if i tried with the key..
it'd turn over, i would shut the jeep off but it still would be trying on it's own.

Have a remote start? Could possibly be glitching out, my wife's old sable did that a few times

ironically, i just got done messing with the bottom of the steering wheeling/column and found SEVERAL wires that have been spliced into.. and have random bare wires spliced into them..

I am thinking there had to be something in this jeep that i don't know about, also there is a spot under the driver seat (im assuming its for the airbag control module or some sort of seatbelt system.) or something of that nature. I am aware that most chrysler vehicles have theyre seatbelt or airbag system wired under the seat.

Well guess, i have figured it out...

it was the ignition switch, i didn't have to replace it..
i just unplugged it, and cleaned it... plugged it back in.
and there it is... no more annoying starting on it's own.

now to see why the jeep won't fire up and run..
isn't getting a good spark.

You swamped your Jeep, you need to disassembly the fuse blocks (yes, both), clean and dry them. Just because the top of the engine bay fuse block isn't wet doesn't mean water and crud didn't get into the bottom side and short several circuits. Take it apart and clean it, just in case. Don't rule it out until you've actually inspected it.

Now as to why it won't start... could be a lot of things. Could be as simple as a done-in coil, could be that you destroyed the ECM by submerging it. You need schematics so you can check power to ground on all ECM circuits. If any of the circuits are dead, you need an ECM.

Already drained both differentials and transfer case replaced fluids?

Well, the jeep will start now with the key.
and will not keep trying to start.
I have that issued fixed.
I have cleaned and removed fuses..

Everything works inside the jeep, gauges, the radio, lights, just likes it's supposed to know.


I just put a crank shaft pos sensor in, new plugs, wires, cap and rotor button. still nothing. i can't tell if it's not getting spark.
It gets fuel cause i checked the rail

Take a look at this

Attachment 251206

Guys, she's up and running. Took her on the trail today with little issues.

Here's a list of everything i replaced...

- Plugs and Wires
- Distributor cap
- Rotor Button
- Fuel Pump Relay, ASD relay, Starter Relay
- I cleaned the Ignition Switch.
- Fuel Pump (The pump itself) and attempted to replace the Fuel pressure regulator.

Lastly, i just pulled out the old pump/Pressure regulator.
Bought an entire new assembly and that's what did it.
I seafoamed her, and let it run for about 10-15 mins..
She's back in action.